Bycatch reduction device (BRD) on fyke-net: Fishermen’s view of newly developed grid system for narrow-clawed crayfish fishery in Turkey

Narrow-clawed crayfish (Pontastacus leptodactylus, Eschscholtz, ۱۸۲۳) is one of the most valuable species of inland waters in Turkey. The proportion of individuals below the minimum landing size (MLS; ۱۰ cm total length) is quite high in traditional fyke net fishing. The main reason for this situation is the low length selectivity properties of the net. Using grid system improved crayfish selectivity. In this study, fishermen opinion about the grid systems, in fyke net was investigated. A survey based on face-to-face interviews was conducted with fishermen at Köprü fishing area of Eğirdir Lake between Jun-۲۰۲۰ to October-۲۰۲۰. The age of the fishermen participating in the survey varies between ۳۰ and ۶۸. The majority of the fishermen who participated in the survey (۶۸%) are primary school graduates. Their professional experience ranges from ۱۰ to ۴۷ years, with a mean (±SE) of ۲۷±۰.۳ years. A ۵۶% of fishermen specified that there is a selectivity problem in crayfish fishing, but ۶۰% of thought that commercial fyke net allow individuals below the legal catch size to escape. An ۸۰% of fishermen expressed that classified of catch according to the MLS after the harvest. Fishermen stated that ۵۶% of the selection processes were carried out by the traders at the purchasing center, and ۴۴% of them were carried out by eye on the board. ۶۴% of fishermen thought that using of the more selective gear will helpful for crayfish stock and also ۵۶% emphasize that they can use newly designed grid system which is improving for selectivity. As a result, the problem of size selectivity in traditional fyke net for crayfish fishing is known by the fishermen and it has been concluded that the using the grid system can be extended among the fishermen. It has been concluded that the grid systems, developed to improve size selectivity, can be used and expanded by fishermen.

Keywords:

Crayfish , fyke-net , Grid selectivity , Fishermen opinion , small scale fisheries , Eğirdir Lake